Match Feed

Q4 26:21

Western Bulldogs could not improve their disposal by foot across the match, with their kicking efficiency of 45.8 per cent the lowest by any team in a game this season. Fremantle found kicking easier to execute, with 73 per cent of kicks effective.

Q4 26:21

Fremantle has led at every change to send sixtime All-Australian player Matthew Pavlich off with a win in his final game. The Dockers' forward press strangled the Bulldogs in the last quarter, keeping them goalless as they head towards the finals.

Q4 26:11

The siren has sounded to end Q4.

Q4 25:50

BEHINDBulldogs (Liam Picken)

Q4 24:02

Western Bulldogs InterchangeClay Smith replaces Koby Stevens due to the blood rule.

Q4 21:28

Stephen Hill has been damaging for Fremantle with 28 disposals and a gamehigh 608 metres gained. This is above his season average of 521 metres gained per game, the sixth highest average of any player in the league this season.

Q4 20:19

Western Bulldogs have taken the ball inside forward 50 just twice this quarter, however they have not had a disposal in this zone.

Q4 19:57

BEHINDDockers (Matthew Pavlich)

Q4 18:46

Fremantle has dominated territory in this final quarter via its forward press, winning 15 midfield intercepts compared to just three by Western Bulldogs. They have taken nine of the resulting possession chains inside forward 50.

Q4 18:16

BEHINDDockers (Matthew Pavlich)

Q4 15:02

Fremantle has finally delivered with its 11th forward 50 entry of the final term. The Dockers have had 37 disposals inside their forward half in the final quarter, compared to just 11 by the Bulldogs.

Q4 14:42

GOALDockers (Shane Yarran)

Q4 11:15

Lachie Neale has now won a gamehigh 10 clearances, four more than any other player on the ground (David Mundy has won six).

Q4 10:32

BEHINDDockers (Hayden Ballantyne)

Q4 09:56

Fremantle has now taken 126 marks, the highest tally by the team in any match this year. Western Bulldogs have just managed 64 marks today.

Q4 08:44

Once again Fremantle is controlling field position but cannot find a route to goal. The Dockers have recorded the first six forward 50 entries of the term and have had the ball inside their forward half for 84 per cent of its duration.

Q4 06:37

BEHINDDockers (Matthew Pavlich)

Q4 01:43

BEHINDDockers (Michael Walters)

Q4 00:51

BEHINDDockers (Hayden Ballantyne)

Q4 00:00

Q4 is now underway.

Q3 27:52

Fremantle has now led at all three changes for just the second match this year. The third quarter was a scrappy affair, with both teams managing just two goals apiece. Lachie Neale had 11 disposals for the quarter and now has 30 for the match.

Q3 27:42

The siren has sounded to end Q3.

Q3 27:11

For the second time today, Fremantle has had all (eight) forward 50 entries across a ten minute period only for the the Bulldogs to counterattack and capitalise on a single entry with a goal to Tory Dickson. He has now kicked three goals for the game.

Q3 26:00

GOALBulldogs (Tory Dickson)

Q3 22:50

Western Bulldogs InterchangeLachie Hunter replaces Marcus Bontempelli due to the blood rule.

Q3 22:15

Fremantle has been effective at retaining possession by foot. The Dockers have taken 41 more marks than the Bulldogs (96 to 51). The Dockers are tracking well above their season average of 83 marks per game (ranked 14th int he league).

Q3 21:26

BEHINDDockers (Aaron Sandilands)

Q3 18:42

Fremantle's goal kicking has been exceptional. The Dockers have kicked nine goals straight, with their only two behinds being rushed.

Q3 18:36

GOALDockers (Michael Apeness)

Q3 15:36

Dickson has kicked the Bulldogs' first goal from a mark since Smith kicked the opening goal of the game. The Bulldogs have managed just 2.6 (18) from general play.

Q3 15:33

GOALBulldogs (Tory Dickson)

Q3 13:04

BEHINDBulldogs (Clay Smith)

Q3 08:38

BEHINDBulldogs (Koby Stevens)

Q3 07:45

Western Bulldogs recorded 108 kicks in the first half but just at 44 per cent efficiency, the second lowest by any team in the first half this season. The Bulldogs haven't helped their cause in the third quarter, with just 37 per cent of kicks effective.

Q3 04:05

BEHINDBulldogs (Rushed)

Q3 01:28

Fremantle's transition has been effective, taking the ball directly from defensive 50 to forward 50 on 22 per cent of attempts and resulting in three goals. Western Bulldogs have only transitioned successfully once (five per cent), returning one goal.

Q3 01:18

GOALDockers (Michael Walters)

Q3 00:00

Q3 is now underway.

Q2 30:09

Fremantle's efficiency from scoring opportunities has helped it to an 11point half time lead. The Dockers have had two fewer forward 50 entries, but with five extra marks inside 50 have kicked 7.2 (44) to 4.9 (33) of the Bulldogs.

Q2 29:59

The siren has sounded to end Q2.

Q2 29:02

BEHINDBulldogs (Rushed)

Q2 27:15

BEHINDBulldogs (Rushed)

Q2 25:21

Fremantle's kicking efficiency of 72 per cent in the forward half has helped the team take seven marks inside 50 within the first half. The Dockers only average nine marks inside 50 per full game across the season (ranked 18th).

Q2 24:51

GOALDockers (Matt de Boer)Mark, Play On (0-15m, Corridor)

Q2 24:08

The Bulldogs have won seven of the past eight clearances, with Liam Picken winning four first possessions and two clearances in those contests.

Q2 21:25

Now Western Bulldogs are finding ways to control field position, with the ball inside their forward half for 82 per cent of the past ten minutes. After six consecutive forward 50 entries, they goal through Dahlhaus after three behinds and two misses.

Q2 21:21

GOALBulldogs (Luke Dahlhaus)

Q2 20:39

BEHINDBulldogs (Rushed)

Q2 18:55

BEHINDBulldogs (Luke Dahlhaus)

Q2 17:42

BEHINDBulldogs (Lachie Hunter)

Q2 14:36

The Bulldogs' kicking outcomes have not improved this quarter, with 28 kicks at only 43 per cent efficiency. The Dockers are still managing to dispose by foot with more easy, recording 40 kicks at 80 per cent efficiency.

Q2 13:10

Weight of numbers is starting to win out for Fremantle, now with their second from 11 forward 50 entries this term. The Bulldogs have kicked one goal from their one entry. The ball has been inside the Fremantle forward half for 83 per cent of the quarter

Q2 12:48

GOALDockers (Danyle Pearce)

Q2 11:56

BEHINDDockers (Rushed)

Q2 11:38

Fremantle has been effective winning the ball inside 50, with seven possession chains (four clearances and three intercepts) launched in that zone resulting in three goals. The Bulldogs have scored just one behind from two forward 50 possession chains.

Q2 10:14

GOALDockers (Michael Walters)Mark, Play On (0-15m, Right Side)

Q2 06:32

Fremantle has had the ball inside its forward half for 93 per cent since quarter time, with the first six forward 50 entries of the match without a goal. Tory Dickson has hurt the Dockers on the counter attack, taking four running bounces to convert.

Q2 06:28

GOALBulldogs (Tory Dickson)

Q2 05:05

Western Bulldogs' effectiveness has not improved after the break. The Bulldogs have had eight fewer kicks in total than the Dockers for the match, however they have recorded 15 more ineffective kicks and one more clanger kick.

Q2 00:00

Q2 is now underway.

Q1 30:35

Lachie Neale has already won 13 disposals to quarter time and has been particularly effective around the stoppages with four clearances. This is the 32nd time this year that the Fremantle midfielder has won 10 or more disposals in a quarter.

Q1 30:35

Fremantle leads at quarter time for just the sixth time this season, set up by far cleaner ball use. The Dockers recorded a kicking efficiency of 74 per cent, clearly superior of the Bulldogs at 44 per cent (their second lowest in a term this year).

Q1 30:25

The siren has sounded to end Q1.

Q1 29:04

BEHINDDockers (Rushed)

Q1 27:55

Western Bulldogs InterchangeTom Boyd off due to an injury.

Q1 21:05

BEHINDBulldogs (Rushed)

Q1 19:57

Fremantle has managed the windy conditions in the past ten minites, with 20 kicks at 80 per cent efficiency compared to the Bulldogs with 10 kicks at just 20 per cent. The Dockers have taken 11 more marks and kicked three more goals in this period.

Q1 19:03

GOALDockers (Stephen Hill)

Q1 17:09

Western Bulldogs have won the first six centre clearances of the match however they haven't directly capitalised, generating just two behinds from four resulting forward 50 entries.

Q1 16:32

BEHINDBulldogs (Rushed)

Q1 14:06

In his 353rd and final game at AFL level, Matthew Pavlich has become just the 22nd player in league history to kick 700 goals. The goal derived from a Fremantle kickin, just its 14th goal from 267 kick-ins this season.

Q1 13:56

GOALDockers (Matthew Pavlich)

Q1 13:19

BEHINDBulldogs (Koby Stevens)

Q1 12:41

Lachie Neale has already won nine disposals, four more than any other player on the ground. Before this game he had recorded 701 disposals for the season, more than any other player in the league. He has kicked just his seventh goal for the year.

Q1 12:07

GOALDockers (Lachie Neale)

Q1 09:46

The Bulldogs have again taken the resulting possession chain inside 50 from their second successive intercept in their defensive midfield zone, once again finished by Clay Smith for his second major.

Q1 09:30

GOALBulldogs (Clay Smith)

Q1 06:00

Mundy has kicked Fremantle's first goal following a hitout to advantage from Sandilands inside forward 50. Sandilands has the highest hit-out win rate (65 per cent) of any ruckman this year, however the Docker big man is playing in just his fifth game.

Q1 05:43

GOALDockers (David Mundy)

Q1 02:43

With the first centre clearance followed by three repeat entries from successive midfield intercepts, the Western Bulldogs have registered the first four inside 50s of the match. Clay Smith takes their first mark inside 50 and converts accordingly.

Q1 02:39

GOALBulldogs (Clay Smith)

Q1 00:17

BEHINDBulldogs (Caleb Daniel)

Q1 00:00

Q1 is now underway.

Q0 00:00

The Bulldogs have kept the ball in their forward half for an average of 7 minutes per game more than its opposition (ranked second) this season, while the Dockers have conceded time in forward half by an average of six minutes per game (ranked 14th).

Q0 00:00

Western Bulldogs have dominated possession this season, averaging 45 extra disposals per game than its opposition (ranked first). On average, Fremantle concedes 29 extra disposals per game than it records itself (ranked 16th).

Q0 00:00

Fremantle defeated Western Bulldogs in all four encounters between 2012 and 2015, but the Bulldogs hit back in Round 1 this year defeating the Dockers by 65 points at Etihad Stadium. In that match the Western Bulldogs had a club record 498 disposals.

Q0 00:-20

Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.

The loss does not have any implications for the Bulldogs. They were consigned to a seventh-place finish and an elimination final against West Coast after Hawthorn's win over Collingwood was confirmed at half-time.

But the Bulldogs will be concerned by their horrific ball use, kicking at 46 per cent for the match. The Dockers' pressure was outstanding all day but it will go up a notch in September.

"I was really pleased, the emotional hook for Matthew was really important for us," Lyon said.

"We come off a bad 30-40 minutes against a team that is going to a super team, that is a super team in GWS.

"We acknowledged it. It was a flat meeting early in the week, but they wanted, they committed, they the players, wanted to come and play and committed to play with passion and hardness at the ball for four quarters."

The day was all about Pavlich. He walked through a guard of honour featuring some former teammates pre-game. The crowd only had to wait 14 minutes in the opening term for another milestone when he was on the end a neat chain of handballs to run into an open goal for his 700th career major. Every Docker on the ground ran to celebrate with him.

He had a chance to seal the match and his career with a late goal but he missed two straightforward set shots in the last quarter.

There were hugs for Pavlich post-match and another guard of honour, as he was carried from the ground by David Mundy and Alex Silvagni following a lap of honour. There were also quiet hugs for Hayden Ballantyne and Chris Mayne who could also have played their last games for the Dockers.

His teammates were outstanding to set up the win. Lachie Neale was excellent all day in the midfield with 36 disposals - 19 contested - and he feasted on some great service from Aaron Sandilands. Youngsters Lachie Weller and Darcy Tucker gave the Dockers a glimpse of the future with great run and carry all day. The defence stood firm led by the impenetrable Garrick Ibbotson.

Matthew Boyd stood tall down back for the Bulldogs with 35 disposals. Luke Dahlhaus and Liam Picken fought hard though the middle. Tory Dickson was one of the few Bulldogs to take his chances in front of goal with three majors. Marcus Bontempelli had 27 disposals but had his effectiveness quelled somewhat by Tommy Sheridan.

The Dockers kept their noses in front all day on the back of a four-goal to two opening term. They matched the Bulldogs around the contest and never relented. The home side lifted an extra cog in the last quarter with 15 inside 50s to seven. They only converted one of seven scoring opportunities but Shane Yarran's goal was enough to seal the win.

Western Bulldogs: Tom Boyd landed awkwardly on his left ankle in the first term and had to be helped off the ground to receive treatment. He came back on and played out the game. Bontempelli had his eye split open in a head clash but came back on.

NEXT UPHawthorn's last-gasp win over Collingwood sealed the Bulldogs' fate. They have to head to Perth again in a fortnight to face West Coast in an elimination final. Fremantle's dismal season ends with just four wins but the Dockers' WAFL-affiliate side Peel Thunder host an elimination final next weekend. The 19 Dockers eligible to play in that game will continue to train this week.